Destination:
Angola Rodeo at the Louisiana State Penitentiary
St. Francisville LA (on the Mississippi River) we be there say 11am to 5pm GOOD EATS TOO but no cell phones, no cameras allowed
Need tickets $20 http://www.angolarodeo.com/?q=Tickets

Saturday Night April 21st:not much for motels within 20-40 miles. Natchez or Zachary or Baton Rouge would be your best bet
but fwiw: Don & I going to cross the mighty Mississippi and stay at a new Best Western in New Roads
False River BW (225) 618-5725 $130 including all the taxes, but with full hot breakfast

Don from Tallahassee will be riding over to Slidell on Fri 20th.
He will be the lucky dog stopping at 'the Shed BBQ and Blues joint' exit 57, MS 57.
I'm not sure yet if I will be heading to Slidell from Montgomery or Atlanta or a tbd.

Ride & Rodeo a great combination. Plan to join us if you can. Rodeo likely will be sold out so getting a ticket at the gate on Sat 21st would be a crap-shoot.
Order one now if you think you want to go.

surprised to see all the seats in Sections 12-21 straight across from the launch stall gates are pretty much already Sold Out. Left & Right ends are still available as are the seats left and right of the launch gates. btw: it is covered seating so if it happens to rain the show goes on.

Still have time to plan a ride
In a week we will be "Heading to the Penitentiary"

Plan is to meet for lunch Friday April 20 around 1pm at Dick Russell's BBQ in Tillmans Corners Alabama https://www.dickrussells.com/memories/ and https://www.dickrussells.com/
Dick Russell's BBQ is on US90 just north of I-10 exit 15B. Dick's is on the west side Frontage Road / Access Road / Service Road whatever they call it where you live. Have to get off US90 and get on the US90 Frontage road. Less than a mile north of I-10 exit 15B.

Planning to meet Don from Tallahassee and likely Brent there for lunch. Not sure who else at this point. Then ride due west on Three Notch Rd into Mississippi, all back roads to Saucier MS then more back roads to hit US90 in Pass Christian then follow the Gulf of Mexico on US90 then break off at White Kitchen for the short ride into La Quinta Slidell.

Then ride up to the Louisiana State Penitentiary for the Rodeo on Saturday AM.

unfortunately haven't had any time at all yet to twist a wrench on any of the xs11's. So may need to roll out an off-brand spare for this ride.

Almost ride time. Weather is looking to be perfect. No pics from the event. Looking forward to some great rodeo riding.

Prison Rodeo Policies REVISED
NOTICE - Introduction of Contraband including but not limited to drugs, alcohol, weapons or cell phones into the prison is a felony for which you will be prosecuted under L.R.S. 14:402
By entering this penal institution, you have consented to a search of your person, property and vehicle.
No food, drink, umbrellas, stadium seats, or cameras are allowed through the rodeo entrance gate.
All weapons, ammunition, alcohol and drugs must be deposited at the Front Gate before entering the institution.
All purses, diaper bags, belt pouches, etc., must be clear and no larger than 12”x6”x12” and will be searched before you enter the rodeo grounds. No food items or ice chests will be allowed. Ice chests must be locked inside the vehicle.
All vehicles are to be locked. All knives, cell phones, cameras, or video equipment should be left inside your locked vehicle. All tools must be locked in a toolbox or inside the vehicle.
Louisiana State Penitentiary is a smoke free facility. No smoking materials are allowed inside of the rodeo grounds.
ALL UNLOCKED VEHICLES WILL BE SEARCHED

Still haven't had time to work on an xs11
Hopefully in a few weeks.
Guess I'll be riding the GL1800 so I can hit the button and lock all the bags to avoid that search.

Heading to Louisiana. A short 206 mile ride yesterday. A perfect sunny and 70. The day before was a humid - hot 84 so the cooler 70 was just perfect. After the fight to get out of Atlanta the route was GA34 which becomes AL22. Then AL63. Rolling hills, curves, great scenery, sparse traffic.

Yes it was nice to get out and ride with Brent. Trip was 1,397 miles. Route included some very nice back roads in SW Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Really enjoyable variety of scenery, curvy roads and hills. I had a series of roads I wanted to try and they turned out to be great with smooth pavement. Rally ride quality. Brent was smiling. Worthy of a re-do before the summer heat and humidity ramps up.

Rodeo at the prison was very entertaining. It is quite the production. We enjoyed it very much and recommend it. I hope to go back again some day. It is held one weekend a year in April, then Sundays in October.

Thurs, Fri & Sat were sunny, warm and nice. Sun afternoon was payback - the storms started. Got wet a few times. No tornado, just spots of heavy rain. Don got the worst of it going home in across the Florida panhandle, but made it ok but water logged.

We had a good time. Wish more xsives could have joined us. Three of us split the motel room, like the good ol' days. Will try and post a couple pics